The Productivity Tip I DISAGREE WITH Most

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Stop starting with the hardest tasks first!

There. I said it.

There is a common productivity tip out there that was popularized by tons of famous people—Mark Twain, Brian Tracy, and tons more! We hear a lot about MITs (or Most Important Tasks) and you may have even heard the phrase or read the book Eat that Frog. Don’t worry, we’re not actually talking about eating frogs here. It refers to a famous Mark Twain anecdote where he famously said that, if the first thing you do in the morning is eat a live frog, you can go through the rest of the day knowing the worst is behind you.

What does he mean? He means that your frog is your worst task. If you do that first thing in the morning, you make your day less stressful. But, I don’t know that I agree. Especially because I work with people who are chronically and severely stressed out and overwhelmed.

Look, we all want to be productive and make the most of our days, and there are countless methods and hacks to help us achieve this goal. But, despite the fact that this s a really common one, it might not be the best for everyone.

A different approach that is gaining popularity is to begin with quick and easy tasks. I’ll be completely honest and fess up to the fact that this recommendation doesn’t agree with research. You can read more about some of the studies here and I’ll be the first to admit that there are some limitations to this. However, I find that starting with the easy and quick tasks can provide you with several benefits that can help overwhelmed, stressed-out people overcome a needed hump to get their day started.. Here are some reasons why starting with easy tasks might be more productive:

1. Build momentum

Starting with easy tasks can help you build momentum and get into a productive mindset. When you start your day by crossing off a few easy tasks on your to-do list, you'll feel more motivated and energized to tackle the harder tasks later on. This can help you build momentum and get into a flow state, where you're fully focused and engaged in your work. This approach can be particularly effective if you struggle to get started in the mornings or if you're feeling demotivated.

2. Reduce stress and overwhelm

Starting with your hardest and most important task of the day can be stressful and overwhelming, especially if you're not in the right mindset or don't have enough time. By starting with easy tasks, you can reduce your stress levels and break up your work into smaller, more manageable chunks. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed, which can ultimately lead to better productivity. Moreover, by starting with quick and easy tasks, you can create a sense of accomplishment and feel like you're making progress, which can further reduce stress and anxiety.

3. Boost confidence

Crossing off easy tasks can give you a sense of accomplishment and boost your confidence. This can help you feel more positive and motivated, and give you the confidence to tackle more difficult tasks later on. By starting with easy tasks, you can set yourself up for success and build your confidence for the rest of the day. This approach can be particularly beneficial if you're dealing with a daunting or complex project, as it can help you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

4. Make time for important tasks

Starting with easy tasks doesn't mean you're neglecting your crucial or challenging tasks. Instead, it means you're creating time and space for them by reducing stress and building momentum. By starting your day with quick and easy tasks, you can free up mental space and energy to tackle the harder tasks later on. This can help you stay focused and motivated, and ensure that you're making progress towards your goals.

5. Warm up for your day

This is the last big part of this! It has always driven me absolutely nuts that we warm up for exercise and physical activity, but we don’t do anything of the sort to warm up for our mental work. We just expect ourselves to be focused as soon as our butts hit the chair and that’s not practical. That’s why I love the notion of quick, easy tasks. I’m doing the things that don’t require me to be at my best mentally at the start of my day instead of the things that do. I’m able to do things like copy links, embed podcasts, send emails, etc. as I’m sipping my coffee and waking up, instead of doing client deliverables that might require a lot of me. That’s a powerful thing and something I think helps SO much!

In conclusion, starting with easy tasks can be a powerful way to boost your productivity, reduce stress, and build momentum. By taking care of the quick and easy tasks first, you can set yourself up for success and tackle the harder tasks with more energy and motivation. While this approach may not work for everyone, it's worth trying if you're feeling overwhelmed or demotivated. By experimenting with different methods, you can find the approach that works best for you and helps you achieve your goals.

So, that’s it!

Check out the video below. This is a video from a couple of week ago, but it gives you a feel for HOW I actually implement this idea in real-time!

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